Wilkinson defiantHoward Wilkinson insists he will not shy away from making unpopular decisions as Sunderland battle for Premiership survival. And Wilkinson proved as much on Monday night when he substituted Kevin Phillips 65 minutes into the 3-0 defeat against Manchester City at the Stadium of Light.
Phillips made a point of applauding the sparse home crowd before signalling to Wilkinson that he had had enough.
Afterwards Wilkinson made it clear he would continue to do what he thinks was right, saying: "Unfortunately there are unhappy players on the pitch and given the situation we were in, we had to either change personnel or change tactics . . . At the moment what we can't afford is too many egos around the place."
Everton appeal red card
Everton have appealed against David Unsworth's sending off in Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Chelsea at Goodison Park.
Unsworth was red carded following a clash with Chelsea's Jesper Gronkjaer. The Dane tried to persuade referee Eddie Wolstenholme against dismissing Unsworth and publicly offered his support at any appeal hearing.
O'Neill back in dug-out
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill will be allowed to sit in the dug-out for the UEFA Cup third round, second leg tie away to Spanish outfit Celta Vigo tomorrow after European soccer chiefs agreed to hear his appeal against a touchline ban. O'Neill was ordered into the stands by French referee Claude Columbo during the first leg at Celtic Park, a ruling which carried with it a two-game ban.
But O'Neill appealed and UEFA will hear his case sometime early in January.
Midfielder tests positive
Athletic Bilbao midfielder Carlos Gurpegi has tested positive for traces of the banned steroid nandrolone, the Basque club confirmed yesterday. Athletic said the Spanish football federation informed them Gurpegi failed a test taken after the match against local rivals Real Sociedad on September 1st. The club said that the player has protested his innocence and insisted he had not taken anything deliberately.
Derby granted loan
Derby County have been granted a loan by the Professional Footballers' Association to tide them over their short-term financial difficulties. The six-figure sum is to cover players' wages and allow the debt-ridden club to settle the contracts of some of the higher-paid players. But it comes with conditions. "In addition to paying up some contracts, we also expect the club to sell some players when the transfer window opens next month," confirmed the PFA's chief executive Gordon Taylor.
